Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-17
The Nicaragua Canal.

The Nicaragua Canal.
, We are glad to give room to the fol-
lowing communication for since
writing chr article to which it alludes
We have gained much information on
the subject from an article in anorthern
periodical, which goes to show that our
correspondent is right:
The Nicaragua Canal.
TO The EditOr Of the Dispatch:
In an editorial in your paper of July
ID instant, headed 1.-THE Ship Rail-
way" you insert clipping from the
New Orleans Tmcs-DemOcrdt which
contains the following language :"And
now that the Panama and Nicaragua
canals are shown not to be among the
possibilities, it is to be expected that all
those who want route across the 18th
mus will give their aid and backing to
the only practical transit between the
Atlantic and Pacific remaining" You
then, in your editorial commenting on
the above, further say 1T (the ship
railway will make its own business,
for the Panama scheme and Mica
ragua scheme will be out Of the way"
These are rather strong expressions to
make use of in regard to these two pro-
posed great improvements, and while
the writer would be glad to see such an
enterprise as the "Eads" railway car
ried out to completion, yet he is sure,
Mossrs. Editors, had you or the editor
Of the IGmcS-UCmOcrQt been more full
ly posted about what is going on now
about the Nicaragua canal, you would
not class it as being "not among the
possibilities" For now at this very
hour the Nicaragua Canal Association
is very live body i'll the city of
New YORK, organized by and in
the bands of first-class able finan-
ciers and businessmen, such as
Judge DAILY, Francis A. Street,
Ex-Governor Cornell, Admiral Ammen,
United States navy, Commander lay
lor, United States navy, Hiram Hitch
cock, &C., who mean business, and in
tend to push the scheme to success, for
they have every assurance OF financial
aid and backing in SO doing. The
writer of this has now before him
copy of the treaty and concessions made
by the republic of Nicaragua under
date April 20, 1887, to the Canal Asso-
citation. These concessionsare in them
selves of immense value, and are of
such a character as to command the at
tention of capitalists.
This scheme years back has been
favored by many Of our most leading
men, and later on it has received the
endorsement of President Grant and OF
our present Executive, as well as the
full sanction of Mr.. Secretary Bayarl-
see his letter to Canal Associationunder
date January 7, 1887, as well as the re-
port the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, approving the act of incor
poration, under date January 6, 1887.
For fuller and further information on
all these matters see the detailed and
exhaustive paper read by Captain Tay-
lor, United States navy, before the
New York Geographical Society a short
time since. 1t is convincing to all
thoughtful men.
For years back reconnoissances Of
this route have been made by various
parties, but the first complete survey
was made by Captain Il. 7. Lull,
United States navy, in -----.
This report was exceedingly favorable,
but since then a much more close and
accurate survey was made last year by
Mr.. A. q. Menocal, United States engi-
peer, and his report shows perfectly
feasible route at reasonable cost for
such work, with no engineering
problems OF any enormous magnitude
10 overcome, and that it will be imam
cially great success
in detail we may say the canal will
be 40 miles long, of which 10 miles is
canal proper and 1870 miles the river st.
Juan and Lake Nicaragua-tbis latter
1870 miles forming the summit level
40 feet above tide, and being APP
preached on the Atlantic side by three
locks and on the Pacific by four locks
in all seven locks. The heaviest cutting
On the western end will average Al feet
and that on the eastern end 100 feet.
| The proposed size of the canal is 80
feet vide at the bottom in deep cuts
and 100 feet in the terminal cuts and
other enlarged sections, the width at
! the surface of the water being 80 feet
in deep rock cuts and 184, 2SS, and
342 feet at other points. Locks $50
feet between mitre sills and 80 feet
width of chamber.
1t is estimated that the canal and its
accessories can be completed in six
years, and its cost, including % per
cent. for contingencies, is put down at
S65, 000,0 900. Its probable net receipts
at first at $40, 100000 per annum.
Finally, the writer will only quote
the final paragraphs of Mr. Menocals
report, as follows:
Every figure given in these esti-
mates of cost of construction and OF
business of this great undertaking IS
the result not only of the most careful
consideration, by which all doubtful
elements have been eliminated, but
every statement is based on unim-
peachable data-in fact, it may safely
be said that no unsolved problem of
such magnitude has ever had more re-
liable data on which to base a calcula-
ton o cost, business, and profit.
In conclusion, it is to be hoped that
the year 1899, the fourth centennial an
niversary Of the discovery of America,
may see this waterway completed, and
thus unite the two oceans that wash our
eastern and western shores.
NJ. b. PoITIAUx,
Civil Engineer.
Richmond, Va, July -, 1887.